Career and Transition Boot Camp

MYFOXNY.COM - If you were laid off, or you are worried that you are going to lose your job, you are probably wondering what's next. Many people are trying to reinvent themselves. But where do you do even start? It is tough, especially if you have been in one field for a long time. But there is hope out there. Consider a career and transition boot camp.

Randy Nathan is the president of Project NextGen , a training and professional coaching company. He says for some people networking is a scary word, but really it's just talking to people.

"We are talking about word of mouth, that's the same as networking," he says.

And it's a skill you need, if you are trying to get a job.

"Eighty percent of all jobs are gotten by people who know people," Nathan says. "So it is extremely central to understand the power of networking and how to get people to help you."

Steve Dudash is a laid off electrician. He came to a boot camp in Madison, N.J., to figure out what's next.

"My career has sort of fallen flat and I am interested in either starting something new up or trying to find something I can make money at," Dudash says.

Lisa Lipono is hoping she can take a hobby and turn it into new career.

"I was a recruiter, technical recruiter for many years and I really would like to possibly get into the food network, 'cause I like cooking," Lipono says,

Financial adviser Mitch Slater hoped to enlighten jobseekers about money.

"From a financial side I'd like them to get some education," Slater says. "That they know what they can and can not and not just winging it. Because people are making huge mistakes that are going to cost them big time in 20 years."

One big mistake people make is not being prepared.

"Know your audience, know who you are interviewing with," says Al Torres, of Project NextGen.

Know how to turn your resume into a conversation.

"Know your resume," Torres says. "Most people write the resume, but they don't know how to speak it. They get fumbled up when they actually get interviewed.

The third biggest thing on the networking side, Torres says, is to realize you never know who people know.

In other words, tell your friends, the person who cuts your hair, and even your kid's Little League coach that you are looking for a job.

If you would like to find out about any upcoming events, see:

>PROJECT NEXTGEN